This document discusses how to extend WordPress functionality beyond a simple blog. It covers using dashboard plugins to customize the admin interface, the social networking plugin BuddyPress, the forum plugin bbPress, and the project management and communication plugin P2. Dashboard plugins change the admin dashboard appearance and features. BuddyPress allows building social networks on WordPress sites. BbPress creates customizable bulletin boards. And P2 transforms a WordPress site into a communication ecosystem similar to Twitter and Basecamp combined.

1. To the Word and Beyond!
Extending WordPress Past a
Simple Blog
WordCamp Ottawa 2014
Meagan Hanes @mhanes

2. A Bit About Myself
● Meagan Hanes - @mhanes
● Digital Designer for over 15 years
● Own and Operate Love Digimedia, Ottawa-
based design shop
● Been using WordPress for over 8 years
● Speaker at WordCamp Montreal and Toronto
2013
● Favourite Colour: Rainbow :)

3. This Session Covers...
● WordPress Dashboard Plugins
● Social Networks using BuddyPress
● Forums using bbPress
● Project Management/Communications using P2

4. Dashboard Plugins
● Most plugins provide external functionality for the
website (adding a Twitter Widget, an image slider,
etc)
● But Dashboard Plugins provide internal
functionality
● They change the way the Admin Dashboard looks
and works!

5. Note: Screen Options

6. Google Analytics Dashboard for WP
● Integrates Google Analytics
account with your WordPress site
● Displays charts, reports, etc
directly on Admin Dashboard
● Allows you to monitor website's
usage without loading up full GA
application

7. Dashboard Notes
● Handy way of leaving little admin notes!
● Multiple colours and options available

8. Editorial Calendar
● Makes it easy to manage timing of posts
● Uses click-and-drag interface for simplicity

9. Plugin List
● Google Analytics Dashboard:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-analytics-dash
● Dashboard Notes:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/dashboard-notes/
● Editorial Calendar:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/editorial-calendar/

10. BuddyPress
WordPress-based Social Network System

11. Extending WP: BuddyPress
● BuddyPress brings
Social Networking
features to WordPress
● WP Users can make
posts on their profile
page, follow other
users, join groups, have
group discussions,
receive notifications of
new content, and more.

12. BuddyPress in Action

13. Extending BuddyPress: Plugins
● Easily extendable with
BuddyPress Plugins:
– Add Chat Rooms (iFlyChat)
– Gamify your site with
Achievements (Achievements for
WordPress)
– Make profiles more Facebook-
like (BuddyPress Wall)
– Create a Dropbox-style file repo
(BuddyPress Docs)
Achievements for
WordPress

14. BuddyPress In The Wild

15. BuddyPress Links
● BuddyPress Core: https://buddypress.org
● iFlyChat: http://wordpress.org/plugins/iflychat/
● Achievements for WordPress:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/achievements/
● BuddyPress Wall:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/buddypress-wall/
● BuddyPress Docs:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/buddypress-docs/

16. bbPress
Forums: The WordPress Way

17. Forums using bbPress
● bbPress is a forum solution for WordPress

18. bbPress: Forums Made Easy
● Creates a
customizable bulletin
board system
● Full spam protection
via Akismet
● Links with your site's
existing user accounts

19. bbPress In Action
● Create a new
discussion topic
● Browse existing
discussions
● Displays last post's
time and author
● Allows for subscribing
(sends an email)

20. bbPress Plugins
Rating Widget
GD bbPress Attachments

21. wp-Monalisa
bbPress Plugins

22. Plugin Links
● bbPress Plugin: http://bbpress.org/
● bbPress Go To First Unread Post:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/bbpress-go-to-first-unread-p
● Rating Widget:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/rating-widget
● GD bbPress Attachments:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/gd-bbpress-attachments
● wp-Monalisa:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-monalisa

23. P2

24. Communications using P2
● P2 is a WordPress-based complete conversion
– NOT for your current WordPress website!
● Creates a Communication Ecosystem
● If Twitter and Basecamp had a software baby!

25. P2 in Action
● Eliminates the need to use the Post Editor
● Instead, post directly on the site itself!
● Smaller posts = more communication

26. P2 for Internal Communications
● Use MentionMe plugin to enable @namings
● Perfect for assigning tasks, asking questions
● Extend with P2 By Email to close the loop
– Now a Fully Functional Notification system!
● Organize projects/assignments with tags
● Configure widgets to show top posts,
currently logged in users, latest posts, etc
● Enable or Disable public viewing

27. P2 in Action

28. Plugin Links
● P2 Core Theme: http://p2theme.com/
● MentionMe:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/mention-me/
● P2 Post Feedback:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/p2-post-feedback
● P2 Resolved Posts:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/p2-resolved-posts/
● P2 Likes: http://wordpress.org/plugins/p2-likes/

29. To the Word and Beyond!
Extending WordPress Past a
Simple Blog
WordCamp Ottawa 2014
Meagan Hanes @mhanes